I will never forget meeting Dino for the first time. I shared a flat with a friend in high school, and she had fallen so much in love with Oliver that she wanted her own standard poodle, and so she found Dino. A young male, almost one year old, needed to be rehomed because the owner had osteoarthritis and could not handle her young dog anymore. He stepped into our hall, looked around and it was just like he said ”I’m the biggest, the best and the most handsome, and I’m in charge here”.

Soon after my friend dropped out of high school and moved back home to Stockholm. Not long after I was told that Dino was going to be rehomed. He had already been with an elderly couple who sent him back after two weeks, and was now temporary living with my friend’s father. I immediately said that my father could offer Dino a new home. Then came the part of convincing my father. He had been talking about getting a dog of his own after Oliver and I had moved out, and I told him about Duno, the dog with an attitude and a heart of gold who was now being moved between different homes. Dad said he could foster Dino until a new home was found, but I was certain Dino would remain with my dad and I managed to convince my friend of this. So in December 2015 dad got Dino, and just as I had predicted Dino never had to move again.

Dino was a challenge, in many ways. He was very secure in himself and an independent youth without any real obedience or socialisation training. He saw no point in people, mostly they were in the way of what he wanted. But as time went by he began cracking the code, and he soon became a happy and loyal friend who guarded his pack. He was a dog that demanded respect, and who only obeyed those who proved themsleves worthy of being his leader. He never liked crowds, but he loved his family and always greeted you carrying a toy.

I got to enjoy one hike and boattrip with Dino, but he was also a companion on many long walks, travels and outings.

On October the 30th 2016 Dino was put to sleep after a week of batteling a serious pneumonia. It was a very sudden and painfull loss of a very dear and special friend who still had a lot to give.